Judd Urges Vaccines Following Deputy’s Death From the Virus

Aug 25, 2021 at 8:14 am News Channel 8

Following the COVID-19 death of 32-year-old Polk Deputy Christopher Broadhead, Sheriff Grady Judd is urging people to vaccinate against the virus. Fifty of Judd’s 2,000 employees are infected with the virus, and as many as five are in the hospital. Judd, who received the Moderna vaccine when it became available, told News Channel 8 he doesn’t know how many of his officers are vaccinated and won’t say whether Broadhead received a vaccine. But he said he will not mandate his employees be vaccinated, declaring to do so would be government overreach. More

Health

New Monoclonal Antibody Center in Lakeland Can Treat 300 Patients a Day

Aug 21, 2021 at 4:59 pm ClickOrlando

The state of Florida today opened a monoclonal antibody treatment center at Lakes Church, 1010 E. Memorial Blvd., that has the capacity to treat up to 300 patients a day. Gov. Ron DeSantis came to Lakeland to announce the clinic, which will provide free treatments to people who have tested positive for COVID-19 and vulnerable people who have been exposed to somebody with COVID, ClickOrlando reported. The treatments are provided regardless of vaccination status and are intended to keep recipients from needing hospitalization. | MORE: Learn more & make an appointment | DeSantis news conference

Health

Polk Exceeds 100,000 Total COVID-19 Infections as New Records Are Set

Aug 20, 2021 at 7:40 pm

With nearly 7,000 new COVID-19 infections reported in Polk County this week — the fourth consecutive week of setting a new high mark — Polk has exceeded 100,000 total infections since testing began in March 2020. The county recorded an average positivity rate of 28.9% this week, also a new high mark.

COVID new cases and positivity chart — *View an interactive version of this graphic.*

Health/ Schools

Kay Fields Calls for School Board to Consider Masks for 30 Days

Aug 20, 2021 at 11:50 am

Citing rising public concern about school safety as COVID numbers increase, Polk School Board Vice Chair Kay Field has called for the board to consider a 30-day mask requirement. She also says that her three requests to hold a special School Board meeting to discuss safety concerns have been ignored. More

Health/ Business

Group Holding Lakeland Rallies to Oppose Vaccine Mandates

Aug 18, 2021 at 6:18 pm

Even before the Watson Clinic announced last week that it would require its employees to be vaccinated against COVID-19 by November, a local group had planned a rally to oppose vaccine mandates. More

Health/ Public Safety

Polk Fire Chief: Avoid Calling 9-1-1, If Possible

Aug 18, 2021 at 10:45 am

With ambulances stacking up at the Lakeland Regional Health Emergency Room and response times declining under the strain of the COVID-19 surge, Polk County’s fire chief advises residents to avoid calling 9-1-1 if at all possible. More

Health

School District, Republican Club Hold Vaccine Pop-ups

Aug 17, 2021 at 8:36 am

Upcoming pop-up COVID-19 vaccination clinics in Lakeland include one today from 3 to 7 p.m. at Bryant Stadium and one on Saturday from 8 a.m. to noon at the Cleveland Heights Golf Clubhouse. Both are open to the public, no appointments are necessary, and vaccines are free. More

City Hall/ Health

Hospital Adjusting Hourly as COVID Surges, CEO Reports

Aug 16, 2021 at 7:09 pm

Lakeland Regional Health is stepping up employee recruitment and getting creative in how it uses space as its staff copes with a burgeoning number of COVID-19 patients, CEO Danielle Drummond told city commissioners today. More

Health

Polk Sets New COVID-19 Highs for a Third Straight Week

Aug 13, 2021 at 7:10 pm

For a third week in a row, Polk County set record highs for the number of new COVID-19 cases — 6,521 new infections were confirmed — and the rate of tests that come back positive — 27.2% — according to the weekly update from the Florida Department of Health.

Health

Mobile Tour Brings Vaccine Info to Two Lakeland Flea Markets

Aug 13, 2021 at 11:03 am

A mobile tour aimed at educating Latinos about COVID-19 vaccines and combatting misinformation is coming to two Lakeland flea markets this weekend. More